France is the fourth most popular destination for Americans studying overseas. French is the second most popular language studied in the United States. While studying in the country; sample some of the best cuisine in the world, visit the Eiffel tower, spend a weekend browsing through the thousands of pieces of art in the Louvre, tour the beaches of the French Riviera, and even ski the mountain slopes along the Swiss and Spanish borders. The culture and beautiful countryside are truly some of the greatest jewels that Europe has to offer.
I traveled through France several times and have seen the country from the English Channel on the west coast to the border of Switzerland in the east and all along the French Riviera in the south. One trip, during a Graduate program in Europe, my school group spent three amazing weeks in Paris. I've fallen in love with the beauty that the countryside holds and the friendliness of the French people. The secret to finding open arms and a friendly smile is to learn and use some of the French language while shopping, strolling down the street, and eating in the restaurants. I've had a lot of great conversations with the locals in small outdoor cafes while sipping an espresso.
There are programs for everyone; the casual traveler that wishes to learn more about a specific subject, summer sessions, college credit sessions, high school programs, and, Graduate programs. Research these locations, which offer a wide variety of appeals, when searching for a place to study; Paris, Bordeaux, the French Riviera, Grenoble, and Strasbourg. Paris is such an obvious favorite for most Americans wishing to study in France that it might be hard to look through the other suggested destinations. The city is filled with historic sites that make most dreamers swoon. Aside from its famous cultural sites, that would greatly add to any study abroad experience, the city is centrally located and offers a great home base to explore the other parts of France.
Bordeaux is in the region made famous for its internationally distributed wines. The city is also home to several Universities that would make it easy to meet other French students. The French Riviera stretches from the small University town of Aix-en-Provence, which is located near the city of Marseilles, all the way along the Mediterranean coast to the city of Nice. Studying in this area will give you access to the most beautiful beaches in France as well as the opportunity, if your program takes place during May, to visit the world renowned Cannes Film Festival (be sure to book your hotel reservations well in advance as the rooms in the entire area completely sell out during the festival). Grenoble is located in the mountainous region of France, which offers a winter wonderland for enthusiasts of any snow related activities.
Being a small city and surrounded by scenery that is both awe-inspiring and romantic, Grenoble is one of my favorite places to visit. If you are interested in studying and networking for an internship with a large European based organization, then you should choose to live in Strasbourg. Among other large organizations, the city is home to the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, and the International Institute of Human Rights. Another great benefit, of studying in Strasbourg, is its central location on the Rhine bordering Germany, which allows you to use this city as a base to easily explore deep into the central parts of Germany.
No comments:
Post a Comment